Gas producer



Nov. 14, 1939. H, KOPPERS 2,179,638

GAS PRODUCER Filed June 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEYTOR Nuv. 114, 1939. H, KQPPERS 2,179,638

GAS PRODUCER Filed June 10 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 14, 19 39 UNITED STATES GAS PRODUCER Heinrich Koppcrs, Essen, Germany, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Koppers Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application June 10,

1936, Serial No. 84,397

In Germany June 7, 1935 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to gas producers, especially to those for the gasification of bituminous fuels, and furthermore the invention relates to improvements useful in pipe steam boilers and similar apparatus.

An object of my invention consists in providing those improvements in gas producers by which the accessibility of the gas producer shaft and an effective control of the gas streams in the gas producer shaft is also provided for, even if the gas producer is provided with an extension at the top in which the bituminous fuel before entering the gas producer shaft is subjected to a heat treatment, for instance for the purpose of distillation.

In order to avoid the adherence of the slag to the walls of the gas producer during the gasification process of the fuel, the gas producer shaft is often equipped with water-cooling jackets. The gas producer shaft then acts like a steam boiler. The resulting steam together with the air blast can be advantageously introduced into the fuel of the gas producer. It is known to equip the gas producer shell similarly to a pipe steam boiler. In this case, the gas producer shell consists of an upper and a lower ring-chamber, which are interconnected by essentially vertical tubes. The slots between these tubes are suitably closed. An especially preferable construction of the means for closing or sealing the slots between the tubes is a further object of my present invention which will be explained in particular in the followingz? If above the gas producer shaft itself, in which the fuel is gasified, a special top extension is provided for, in which the fuel is treated with heat, before the gasification for instance for the purpose of distillation or low-temperature carbonization, it is necessary to reduce the section of said top as against the sectional area of the gas producer shaft, as otherwise it will not be possible to reach the grate of the gas producer shaft from above with rods or another suitable poker. The shell of the gas producer therefore has between the gasi'fication chamber and the low-temperature carhonization or distillation chamber a step wherein are provided closable poking holes.

In known gas producers with a step-like lowtemperature carbonization chamber the space underneath the step between the gasification chamber and the distillation chamber is often not completely filled-up with fuel. The remaining free space is troublesome to a great extent for the distribution of gases in the gas producer.

The gases developed in the lower part of the gasiiication chamber tend to collect in the free space underneath the step of the shell. With such stepwise construction, the gases will no longer flow upwards in uniformly distributed condition over the whole section of the low-temperature carbonization chamber, but they pass mainly along the walls of the low-temperature carbonization top extension. A proper heattreatment for instance a uniform low-temperature carbonization of the fuel is thus made impossible.

More or less larger proportions of the fuel, which do not come into contact with the escaping gases, which pass up alongside the walls of the gas producer, will reach the lower part of the gas producer undistilled, whereby the gasification reactions are interfered with.

According to my present invention, these difiiculties of the hitherto known gas producers with low-temperature carbonization chambers are in principle eliminated by constructing the conjunction between the low-temperature carbonization and the gasification chamber at an inclination corresponding to the natural gradient of the fuel, so that the fuel charged into the gas producer completely fills up the interior of the gas producer shaft and no hollow spaces can be formed in the fuel column which could be troublesome for the uniform distribution of the gases through the fuel bed. If this basic idea of my present invention is applied to gas producers, which are provided with a shell having the water cooling-jacket in the form of a pipe steam boiler, as I have described it above? then the upper ringshaped water-chamber is advantageously constructed of a larger diameter than the lower one, so that the shell of the gas producer widens conically from the bottom to the top of the gasification chamber.

Another important object of my invention comprises improvements in the connections between the individual tubes of the gas producer shell.

The manufacture of dense tube walls for heating shells for steam boilers, or shaft shells for chambers, in which exists a high-temperature, by closing the slots between the individual tubes by means of straight or bent metallic strips, which are fastened longitudinally to two adjacent tubes is a well-known method.

In such instances, however, the connecting strips are essentially disposed in the connecting line between the centers of two adjacent tubes. This is disadvantageous, since with such construction the tubes must have a rather consider- .40 gas producers, or for the linings of reaction another suitable material. the distillation chamber 2 there is arranged a filling pieces. The connection of the tubes by welding is however very objectionable, as this connection is not elastic and should the tubes expand, it can easily crack. The heating wall between the tubes formed by the insertion of part of the distillation chamber 2, not filled with filling pieces will become quickly leaking, espe:

cially if the tubes are exposed frequently to temperature changes.

According to my present invention, for the elimination of the above difficulties, I connect the adjacent tubes of the pipe steam boilers, gas producers or the like, by means of metallic connecting strips, which run essentially transversally to the connecting line between the centers of two adjacent tubes, and connect these strips to the tubes by welding. The strips are welded according to my invention in such a way, that they are fastened with their longitudinal edges each to one of two adjacent tubes. The connection between the tubes will thus be in its section for instance the shape of a Z or the like. 1

Furthermore, my invention also relates to a new and very advantageous form of the connection between the individual tubes of those gas producers or the like, in which the chamber formed by the tubes enlarges towards the top, so that the spaces between adjacent tubes are small at the one end of the tubes and gradually become larger towards the other end of tubes. According to my invention, the space between the tubes is in this instance closed by a metallic longitudinal strip, which by welding at the longitudinal edges is closely connected with the adjacent tubes and the wedge-like space between the connecting strip and the tubes towards the fire side is filled with suitable refractory stamped mass.

Further objects of my present invention'may be taken from the following description of various preferred modes of carrying out my invention.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a vertical section through a gas producer designed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through a part of the gas producer on line IIII of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 show on an enlarged scale two methods of carrying out the connection between two tubes.

Figs. 5 and 6 show other tube connection.

The gas producer as shown in Fig. l is promodification of the 'vided below with a gasification chamber l and above with a distillation chamber 2. The chamher 2 is formed by refractory brickwork 3 which is laid in a shell 4 consisting of iron plates or In" the ceiling 5 of charging-hopper 6, projecting into the inside of the shaft. The fuel to be treated is charged through an opening, which can be closed by a cover 1, into a container 8. The conical bottom 9 of the container 8 is fitted with an opening which can be closed by means of a cone it. The closure H3 is carried by a chain H, which is fastened to a lever l2. The shaft i3 passes through the walls of the container 8 in a gas-tight way. A hand lever I4 is fastened outside the container I 8 to the shaft l3, which lever carries the weight kept in its closing position.

15. The weight i5 is so equipped, that the closure 8 even if container Ill is charged, can be By pushing the hand lever M, the closure Hi can be lowered so that the fuel in the container 8 slides into the charging hopper 6. Since the closure Hi can be opened, even when the cover I of the container the sealing cup 63.

8 is closed, it is possible to discharge the fuel from the container 8 into the charging hopper 6, without gases escaping through the charging device.

The gas discharge tube I6 is connected to the fuel, laterally of the charging hopper 6.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the distillation chamber 2 has essentially the form of a cylinder. The lower gasification chamber l is enlarged relative to the distillation chamber 2. The conjunction is formed by an inclined area i 'l. Openings 19 are arranged in the brickwork ll, which can be closed-up by the plugs 58, for introducing poking rods into the gasii'ication chamber I through the openings E9.

The gasification chamber I is built-up by a number of metallic tubes 20, which. are connected above to a ring-shaped water-chamber 2 l, and be-- low to a ring-shaped water-chamber 22 in a water-tight way. The chambers 2| and 22 are therefore interconnected by the tubes 20. The tubes 29 iron-plate or another suitable material. A number of supports 2 are fixed to the shell 23 by means of which the gas producer is supported upon the foundation 25.

As may be seen from the drawings, the upper water-chamber 2! is of a larger diameter than the lower water chamber 22 so that the gasifica tion chamber l enlarges conically from the bottom to the top.

The cooler water pipeline 26 is connected with the lower water-chamber 22, and the hot-water return pipeline 2? is connected to the upper water chamber 2!. Both pipelines lead into an evaporator 28, which is situated above the water chamber 2! upon the service platform 29. Due to the elevated position of the evaporator 28, steam is essentially generated, only after the 'water circulates to the pipeline 2'1, and eventually in the upper water chamber 2 I, as there the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid gradually becomes less. Therefore, the dangerous steam spaces 'cannot be formed in the tubes 29 and in the lower water chamber 22. The steam evolved collects in the evaporator 28, and it can be drawn from the arch 36 through a pipeline 32, which is governed by a valve 3|.

An open cylindrical ash apron extension 33 is connected to the lower water chamber 22, which extension projects into the ash pan 34. The bottom of the ash pan 33 isprovided with a travelling rim 35, which can be rotated on rollers '36. The outside of the ash pan 34 carries a tooth-rim 31. into which grips a driving worm 38, by means of which the ash pan is rotated.

A conical grate 39 is arranged in the center of the ash pan. In the upper part '30 of the grate 39 there are provided the openings for admission of air and steam from beneath the grate into the fuel bed on the grate. The ash pan 34! opens outwardly from the grate 39. Underneath the grate 39 the ash pan bottom is provided with a conical extension 41, which has its cylindrical end t?! dipping into a sealing cup 43, which is "filled with water or another suitable liquid. The

pipeline M is in connection with the casing of Air and water-steam are blown through the pipeline M underneath the grate 39. It is advisable to use the steam which has been generated in the vessel 28 as water steam.

The steam-air mixture enters the gas producer fuel through the openings which are arranged in fuel, bituminous coal.

the upper conical part 4!] of the grate 39. The gas which is produced by the reaction between air and water-steam and carbon of the fuel bed rises upwards through the gasification chamber l of the gas producer. As the gasification chamher i is completely filled with fuel, also at its upper end, the gas is uniformly distributed essentially over the whole section of the gas producer. In this way uniformly distributed, the gas then reaches the distillation chamber 2. Here the heat of the gas is transferred onto the The coal is heated and the bituminous constituents will escape in the form of gases and vapors. The mixture resulting from the producer gas or water gas and distilling gas is finally discharged through the pipelines it at the upper end of the distillation chamber 2.

The tubes 23 of the gas producer are suitably interconnected in a gas-tight manner. According to Fig. 3, a metallic strip 45 is inserted between each two adjacent tubes i5, which for example correspond to the tubes Zil of the gasproducer according to Fig. 1. This metallic strip 46 extends transversally to the dash-dotted connecting line ll, between the centers of two adjacent tubes 45. The metallic strip 46 reaches over the entire height or length of the tubes $5. This strip is slightly bent in the form of an 8 so that on one hand it fits well against the tubes 45 and on the other hand any undesired spaces between the metallic strip 3 and the tubes 45 are avoided. According to Fig. 4 the metallic strip Mic is flat. With this construction there are formed spaces between the ends of. the strip 36 and the tubes 25a at point 48. These spaces 48 are not always desired, and especially not desired in those instances where as here the construction is to constitute the enclosure of a gas producer, as it would be easily possible that gas streams may be produced in spaces 48 which give cause to the objectionable so-called edge fire.

The metallic strips as, tea are connected at their opposite longitudinal edges to the tubes M5 by means of welding joints 49, 49a, preferably made by electric welding. By this connection, strips 46 are elastic, accommodate the expansion of the tubes 45 when they expand upon being heated under service conditions. Even with expansion due to heat, the walls of the tube will remain always gas-tight when constructed according to my invention. This is of special importance, if the fuel lies on one side of the tube wall and hot gases are led along the other side of the tube wall, for instance through the space 50 between the shell 23 and the tubes 29, according to Fig. l, for the purpose of utilizing the heat of the gases for the generation of steam.

The construction of Fig. i in which the seams Alla are preferably made by electric welding is used for the heating-walls of steam boilers or for tube-walls which enclose the combustion or reaction chambers. The connecting construction according to Fig. 4 has advantages similar to the construction according to Fig. 3, with reference to the flexibility and the gas-tightness.

It is of course understood, that there are still other possibilities for carrying out my invention according to Figs. 3 and 4 and it is not intended to limit the invention in all its aspects to the methods of execution or the application of the tubular steam boilers, as described and shown.

The invention may also be applied to other technical contrivances, such as to cooling devices or to the protection of iron parts in chambers subjected to high temperatures.

In the mode of carrying out my invention according to Figs. 5 and 6, the tubes 5i corresponding to the tubes 29 of the gas producer of Fig. 1 are interconnected in a gas-tight way by the metallic strips 52, which run in direction essentially parallel to the connecting line 53; which is drawn through the center of the tubes 5i. The connecting strips 52 are connected at the ends in a gas-tight way with the tubes 5! by means of welding seams 55, the connecting strips 52 extend over the entire height or length of the tubes 5i. When using the strips within a gas producer, according to Fig. 1, the connecting strips 52 as well as also the connecting strips 46, 46a of Figs. 3 and 4 are welded above and below to the water chambers 21 and 22.

The space between the preferably bent strips 52 and the tubes 5! is filled with a refractory mass 54, a mass consisting of. a mixture of ground coke, chamotte and a suitable binder, waterglass. By means of the mass 54 the connecting strips 52 are protected against the heat radiation from the one side of the tube wall.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the preferred form of tube connection of the invention for those tubes which lie closely together at one end and which show a certain greater distance at the other end, for instance for the tube wall which forms the conical gasification chamber l of the gas producer shown in Fig. l.

The bent shape of the connecting strips 52 permits a relative movement of the tubes 5| against one another under expansion, but the gas-tight connection of the tubes is not disturbed.

I have above described my present invention on the lines of a preferred embodiment thereof, but my invention is not to be limited in all its aspects to the mode of. carrying out as described and shown since the invention may be variously embodied within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A gas producer comprising a shaft for the fuel to be gasified, the inner face of at least the gasification zone of the shaft being constituted of a number of generally vertical tubes with the tubes unprotected from surface contact with fuel in the gasification zone, the tubes being connected each at their upper and lower ends with annular water chambers provided with means for supply of a cooling liquid into the water chamber for the tubes, said tubes being interconnected with each other to form a gas-tight wall by metallic strips accommodating expansion of. the tubes, said strips being coextensive in length with the tubes and nesting between two adjacent tubes so as to be generally parallel with a line connecting the tube centers, each of said strips having its longitudinal edges welded to the tubes between which they nest on one and the same side of the center line of the tubes and having the portion between said longitudinal edges curved oppositely to the curvature of the portions of the tubes that are on the same side of the line connecting the centers of the tubes that the welds are on, the space between each strip and the adjacent tubes they respectively connect being filled with a mass of refractory material.

HEINRICH KOPPERS. 

